Anne Mulcahy

AWARD LAUREATES | Anne Mulcahy


Anne Mulcahy

Chairman of Xerox

Xerox Corporation was presented with the 2006 Gold Mercury Corporate Governance Award for their innovative technologies, products and services which are used to improve business results. Xerox upholds the Corporate Governance guidelines through their commitment to monitoring the effectiveness of policy and decision making at both the board and management level, with the aim of enhancing long-term shareholder value. It was recognised by Gold Mercury International for its standards and practices in its leadership structures, remuneration policies and shareholder rights and information. Furthermore its Code of Ethical Conduct, transparency, reporting and control were commended.  It’s commitment to policy and practice in recruiting, hiring and promoting in all job classifications, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status or sexual orientation was also recognised. Xerox’s work in the promotion of diversity and equal opportunities are examples of outstanding Corporate Governance and responsibility of a company.

LAUREATE VIDEO


Xerox Corporation Award Announcement

LAUREATE PHOTOS


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Yolanda Moreno

First Dancer of Venezuela

AWARD LAUREATES | Yolanda Moreno


Yolanda Moreno

First Dancer of Venezuela

Yolanda Moreno was the prima ballerina of Venezuela. Born in San Juan, she started dancing aged 13 and her talent was soon recognised. She quickly became an international star and later became a choreographer as well. During her career she gained the title of “The Venezuelan People’s Ballerina”. Over the course of her career she has performed in more than 500 choreographies and reinvigorated the public interest in Venezuelan dance and folklore. She also founded one of the most successful dance schools in Venezuela.

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Paloma O’Shea

AWARD LAUREATES | Paloma O’Shea


Paloma O’Shea

Creator of Albeniz Musical Foundation and Reina Sofía Musical School

Paloma O’Shea is the Founder of the Reina Sofía Musical School and the Creator and President of the Albeniz Foundation. Born in Spain in 1936, she began studying piano in 1941 before moving to France in order to further her interest in music. At the age of fifteen her musical talent was recognised and she was awarded the Primer Premio Fin de Carrera and the chance to perform with the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra. After marrying Emilio Botín, Executive Chairman of Grupo Santander, she chose to dedicate her time to promoting classical music in Spain and as a result she became a patron of the arts. In 1972 she founded the Albeniz Foundation and created the Concurso de Piano de Santander, which is now known as The Paloma O’Shea International Piano Competition. It is held every three years in Spain and is organised by the Albeniz Foundation. In 1991, she founded the Queen Sofía College of Music, which is a private music school that has grown to become one of the leading music schools in Spain. Her commitment to the promotion of arts and music in Spain and her initiatives to encourage musical talent have led to Ms O’Shea receiving numerous awards including The Gold Mercury International Award, as well as the Légion d’honneur of France, the Picasso Awards of UNESCO and in 2008 she was given the rank of Marchioness of O’Shea by the King of Spain.

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Livia Tirone

AWARD LAUREATES | Livia Tirone


Livia Tirone

Sustainable Construction

The Aldabra Foundation was presented with the 2006 Gold Mercury Environment Award for its work in providing specialised knowledge and financial support to ensure the preservation of the ecosystem and environment of Aldabra. Aldabra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, holding the finest surviving tropical atoll ecosystem and the largest raised coral atoll on earth. Due to its unique ecosystems and the species within, it is ecologically and scientifically valuable. The Foundation recognises this and aims to ensure the preservation of the atoll, as well as to promote scientific research into Aldabra’s pristine marine and terrestrial environments. The Aldabra Foundation’s goal is to secure the ecological wonders of Aldabra for future generations by creating the resources and harnessing the expertise required for this task. The increasing impact of human activity is contributing to the decline of the world’s coral reefs, however Aldabra has thus far escaped much of these stresses. Because of this it provides a natural laboratory for studying tropical marine ecosystems and related environments. The Foundation’s mission is to set up a highly developed research facility on the atoll, which will be capable of supporting world leading scientific research into the environment. This will in turn enable comparative terrestrial and marine analysis to achieve a better understanding of ecological change as well as specific anthropogenic impacts on tropical ecosystems such as overfishing, pollution, global warming and ocean acidification.

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Kerry Kennedy

AWARD LAUREATES | Kerry Kennedy


Kerry Kennedy

Founder of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights and Chairman of “Speak Truth to Power” Programme

Kerry Kennedy was recognised with the 2006 Gold Mercury Humanitarian Award for her work as an internationally renowned human rights activist, the Founder of both The Robert F Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights and the “Speak Truth to Power Programme.” Her dedication to raising awareness of human rights over many years has been commendable. She began her work in human rights in 1981 and since this time has led more than 40 delegations to various countries in the search for equal justice. Ms Kennedy established the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights in 1987 to protect the rights codified under the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Her commitment and work regarding human rights covers diverse issues such as child labour, indigenous land rights, freedom of speech, judicial independence, ethnic violence and women’s rights. Her book  Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders Who are Changing our World is a powerful representation of those individuals, from more than forty countries who are seeking to advance human rights. The book features interviews with these human rights defenders and is accompanied by powerful portraits by world renowned photographer Eddie Adams.

LAUREATE VIDEO


Kerry Kennedy Awards Acceptance Speech – Part 1

Kerry Kennedy Awards Acceptance Speech – Part 4

Kerry Kennedy Awards Acceptance Speech – Part 2

Kerry Kennedy Awards Acceptance Speech – Part 3

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H.M. Queen Sofia

AWARD LAUREATES | H.M. Queen Sofia


H.M. Queen Sofia

Queen of Spain

H.M. Queen Sofia was granted the Gold Mercury Humanitarian Award in 1984 for her dedication to numerous humanitarian causes. She was born in Athens in 1938, as Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark and a member of the Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg dynasty. After experiencing a period of time in exile, spent in Egypt and South Africa, she went on to study music, childcare and archaeology in Athens. In 1962 Princess Sofia married Infante Don Juan Carlos de Borbon y Borbon in Athens. In addition to her official Royal engagements, Queen Sofia pursued many solo activities over the years. She established the Queen Sofia Foundation, which has contributed to a variety of humanitarian causes and of which she is Executive President. She has shown particular interest in causes and charities associated with disabilities and drug addiction. She acts as Honorary President of both the Royal Board on Education and Care of Handicapped Persons, as well as the Foundation for Aid for Drug Addicts. She has worked to fight the issue of child slavery and prostitution as well as to promote economic development in third world countries. Her work in highlighting these issues to the world and her commitment to combating them ensures her place as a great champion of human rights.

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H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

AWARD LAUREATES | H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf


H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

President of the Republic of Liberia

H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was presented with the 2006 Gold Mercury Peace & Security Award for her efforts to achieve stability in Liberia. Mrs Johnson Sirleaf has worked tirelessly both locally and internationally for the past four decades, led by the desire for a free market system in Liberia and the ability to present the country as a model for African development. Upon winning the 2005 presidential election, she became the first democratically elected female Head of State in Africa. However with this role Mrs Johnson Sirleaf inherited the extensive task of rebuilding Liberia following fourteen years of civil war and destruction. She embarked on this transition by encouraging Liberians to reconcile their differences and work together to rebuild a new, unified Liberia. During her first presidential term, she launched a strong effort to prevent a regression into civil war by restructuring the economy and reforming existing governing practices. Through her strength and determination she has been able to ensure her country is on the path to peace, growth and development.

LAUREATE VIDEO


Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Award Announcement

LAUREATE PHOTOS


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Elvira Fortunato

AWARD LAUREATES | Elvira Fortunato


Elvira Fortunato

Transistor Pioneer

Elvira Fortunato is a Portuguese scientist from the University of Lisbon. With her team partner Rodrigo Martins, they created the first transistor of paper in the world. Elvira co-led the team that invented a transistor which has the ability to change the colour of any surface: the electrochromic transistor. The device changes the colour to reflect any solid surface where it is applied – paper, glass, ceramic, metal or plastic. In the near future, we will be able to change the colour of our house or our car whenever we choose. The transistors can be applied to surfaces of paper, glass, ceramic (tiles), metal or polymer (plastic, rubber, polyurethane, polystyrene, etc.). This holds great potential for application in all types of displays- computer, TV, mobile phone, PDA – as well as in the static advertising media.

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